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How we started

BioCap was set up in 2020 to provide an action orientated, fully scaleable, response to the global issues of biodiversity loss and climate change. The UK Government’s Climate Change Committee and Natural Capital Committees both recognise that Nature-Based Solutions (such as tree planting, enhancing biodiversity, rewilding, etc.) have a significant part to play in our individual and collective responses to these urgent global issues.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-natural-capital-approach-to-attaining-net-zero-nature-based-interventions

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BioCap started out to provide a data driven map of what to do where across the farmed countryside, providing a landscape-level series of locations and habitats where nature-based solutions can be delivered. We are part of the Ordnance Surveys Geovation Accelerator Programme and have put together our first draft “Opportunity Map” from publicly available GIS and other mapping data.

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BioCap's work has changed somewhat and the emphasis is now on the development of a regional marketplace channelling funds in to strong habitat creation projects.

Founder and Director

Ed Cooper

Ed started BioCap wanting to provide a robust locally relevant approach to the management of our Natural Environment and mitigation of Biodiversity decline and climate change.


Having previously worked on various local projects including the Pang and Kennet Valley Countryside projects and restoring Greenham airbase, Ed is passionate and knowledgable enough to want to make a real difference through the use of nature at a landscape scale.

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Project Manager

Dave Valler

Dave joined BioCap in February 2023 after working for Hampshire County Council as a ranger.

 

He re-trained in Countryside Management in 2018 and has spent the last four years as a ranger doing practical habitat management and tree safety projects across 400ha of nature reserves and SSSI commons in north Hampshire.

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Communications Manager

Adam Albin

Adam has been volunteering with BioCap since 2020 to create and manage our website and social media channels. He is currently studying Biodiversiy Conservation MSc.

Our Partners

BioCap initiated and set up the West Berkshire Natural Solutions Delivery Partnership comprising : 

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  • BioCap Limited – charity with mapping work underway, landowner contacts and technology development/partnerships

  • BBOWT – Wildlife Trust owner of reserves, SLA for management of some Council land, Ecological expertise and role in the planning process and Nature Recovery Network

  • Wessex Downs AONB – Planning and AONB remit, Farm cluster development

  • Natural England - Gov Agency

  • Action for the River Kennet (ARK) – Practical tasks and work along the river corridors

  • Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) – Ecological Survey and baseline records, GIS mapping expertise

  • Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) – Proven distribution of biodiversity net gain offset funds, Carbon offset experience, environmental fund management experience

  • West Berkshire Council – Delivery of West Berkshire Councils Environment Strategy, landowner, budget, coordinating role, Parish Council contacts

  • Farmer/Landowner representatives x 2

  • Technical advisory member

  • Others may be invited on as required for specific purposes but will not be part of any decision-making process.

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BioCap is also working with the WoodMeadow Trust https://www.woodmeadowtrust.org.uk/ on some specific habitat creation projects.

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By piloting local interventions and local investments in Natural Capital across West Berkshire, BioCap and its partners will create a model/programme that is replicable across other local authorities and wider regions of the UK and across other landscapes. We are currently working with several West Berkshire landowners, using a variety of data sources, to identify and work up practical projects that have the potential to capture carbon and enhance biodiversity across West Berkshire. 

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Our technology partner, IMGeospatial, is working with us to explore the use of AI/ML to identify and measure initial baseline data and then to monitor changes and progress of carbon capture, increase in biodiversity, etc. within these sites and across the West Berkshire landscape using a range of data sets.  The long term goal would be to automate the mapping work and where mapped data does not exist to replace this with satellite data and AI/ML to identify habitats and opportunities.  This would allow the work to progress at a global scale.

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Having proved the concept and the ‘Opportunity Map’ we then propose to develop a Local Marketplace which links landowners and projects to local businesses or individuals wishing to offset their carbon footprints or contribute to biodiversity net gain.  This Market place will; enable the delivery of local environmental/climate emergency plans/strategies, develop landowner/community links, increase awareness of the issues, provide residents and businesses with a way of meaningfully responding to global issues and reward the landowners that adopt good environmental practice.

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We believe that the Local Marketplace approach assists with verification and monitoring at all levels and creates ownership of the natural solutions and interventions at a local level.    

Our aim is to develop the intelligent use of data, technology and a business model that can be scaled across the UK and further afield.   

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